NUDIFLOR^ 357 



habitat of Cuckoo Pint. It is found on clay and 

 loam in damp oakwoods, on siliceous soils in sessile 

 oakwoods, on limestone in ashwoods, and in the 

 marsh formation. 



The habit is the rosette habit, with radical leaves 

 and aerial stems in the form of scapes. There is a 

 tuberous, acrid, starchy rootstock. The corms are 

 annual, a new one being produced at the base of the 

 stem. The leaves are vernal, radical, long-stalked, 

 spear-shaped, or heart-shaped when young, with black 

 or purple spots, glossy. The basal lobes are straight 

 or slightly spreading. The leaves are dark green, 

 and may be marked with white veins. 



The flowers are borne on a short scape, which 

 lengthens when there is fruit. The spathe is 6-8 in. 

 long, obliquely bell-shaped, tapering to a point, and 

 the convolute part narrowed above the base. It is 

 erect, yellowish-green, with purple spots. Only the 

 base persists. The plant is monoecious. The spadix 

 is half hidden by the spathe. The upper part is 

 club-shaped, yellow or purple, pink, crimson, easily 

 rubbed off. The female flowers are at the base, and 

 each consists of a single naked carpel. There is a 

 row of rudimentary female flowers above these. 

 Above the last are male flowers with two to four 

 stamens. Above these are rudimentary male flowers 

 represented by hairs turned downwards. The upper 

 part of the spadix falls off. The fruit consists of 

 berries, at first green, scarlet when ripe, borne on the 

 naked stalk, with only the base of the spathe persist- 



